Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Inventor's Grandson Blasts Hershey's Over Recipe Changes

Brad Reese says Hershey's has been "quietly replacing" his grandfather's original milk chocolate and peanut butter recipe with lower quality ingredients.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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The grandson of the inventor of Reese's peanut butter cups, Brad Reese, has taken issue with Hershey's for allegedly replacing the original milk chocolate and peanut butter recipe created by his grandfather, H.B. Reese, with lower quality ingredients like vegetable oils, fats, and peanut butter-style crèmes across multiple Reese's products. Reese says he recently purchased a bag of Reese's hearts and had to throw it away because "it was not edible" and contained no milk chocolate or peanut butter.

Why it matters

Reese's peanut butter cups have been a beloved candy for over a century, with the original recipe being a key part of the brand's identity and consumer trust. Reese's concerns highlight the potential risks companies face when altering long-standing recipes, as it can upset loyal customers and erode brand reputation.

The details

In an open letter to Hershey's, Brad Reese said the company has been "quietly replacing" his grandfather's original recipe, which was comprised of milk chocolate and peanut butter, with lower quality ingredients like compound coatings and peanut butter-style crèmes. Reese said he recently purchased a bag of Reese's hearts and had to throw it away because "it was not edible" and contained no milk chocolate or peanut butter. Reese also noted that in popular Reese's spin-offs like Take 5 and Fast Break, milk chocolate has been replaced with "milk chocolate-flavored coating and peanut butter crème."

  • On Sunday, Brad Reese posted an open letter to Hershey's on LinkedIn.

The players

Brad Reese

The grandson of H.B. Reese, the inventor of Reese's peanut butter cups.

H.B. Reese

The inventor of Reese's peanut butter cups.

Hershey's

The company that owns the Reese's brand and has allegedly been making changes to the original recipe.

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What they’re saying

“My grandfather, H. B. REESE (Who Invented REESE'S), built REESE'S on a simple, enduring architecture: Milk Chocolate + Peanut Butter. Not a flavor idea. Not a marketing construct. A real, tangible product identity that consumers have trusted for a century.”

— Brad Reese (LinkedIn)

“I went and bought a bag, and I took a couple bites, and I had to throw the bag in the garbage. I couldn't eat it. It was not edible, and I looked at the packaging … and there was no milk chocolate, there was no peanut butter — it was all vegetable oils and fats.”

— Brad Reese (Fox Business)

“You have to understand. I used to eat a Reese's product every day. This is very devastating for me.”

— Brad Reese (Associated Press)

The takeaway

This situation highlights the risks companies face when altering long-standing recipes that are central to a brand's identity and consumer trust. Reese's concerns suggest Hershey's may have underestimated the backlash from loyal customers who expect the original milk chocolate and peanut butter formulation, and the company will need to carefully navigate any future product changes to avoid further alienating its core fan base.